The dipnetting season is over in the Kenai and Kasilof rivers and across Kachemak Bay in China Poot Creek.

The second run of reds is slow in the Russian River and the coho counts so far in the Anchor River have reached only 144 fish.

Before you hang up your waders, however, get on a charter boat for halibut (great weather predicted for this weekend all the way to the Barren Islands), hit the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon for silver fishing at its peak, or try your luck at some Dolly fishing on the Anchor River.

And if you can wait, remember catch-and-release steelhead season on the Anchor River gets going in September.

Halibut

Halibut fishing continues to be good to excellent throughout lower and central Cook Inlet. Anglers report finding the best fishing in waters 125-200 feet deep and have had good success around Flat Island and 25-30 miles west of the Homer Spit. Six-pack captains are likely to take advantage of the good weather and try their luck at the Barren Islands or around Queen Elizabeth Island in hopes of catching the big one.

The average weight is about 25 pounds, but many larger fish in the 50-100 pound range are caught every week.

Daily limit is two halibut and four in possession. Remember proxy fishing for halibut is not allowed.

Salmon

Silver salmon are starting to show in small numbers in lower Cook Inlet.

Feeder king salmon continue to be available offshore from Anchor Point to Deep Creek and scattered locations in Kachemak Bay. Bluff Point and Point Pogibshi are always good locations to try for feeders.

The daily bag limit for king salmon is one in Cook Inlet salt waters north of Bluff Point and two south of Bluff Point.

Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon

At the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon, fishing for silvers is nearing its peak. The best bite is on the flooding tide. Cured salmon eggs are the best bet when fishing the incoming tide. Herring also works. Vibrax spinners are working well inside and outside of the lagoon. In slack water in the lagoon, fish the eggs and herring below a bobber. Silvers will be available in the lagoon into September.

The daily bag and possession limit for silver salmon is six in the lagoon area.

Shellfish

The next series of good clamming tides runs Aug. 18-23. The best time to clam is one hour before to two hours after low tide. Only littleneck clams 1 1/2 inches and larger and butter clams 2 1/2 inches and larger may be kept in Kachemak Bay. Sub-legal clams should be reburied with the neck up — they can’t rebury themselves and will die otherwise.

Refill the holes you dig in the beach to prevent smothering other clams and inter-tidal organisms under the sediment you have piled by your holes.

Every razor clam you dig (up to the limit of 60) must be retained — there is no minimum size limit for razor clams.

Diggers are reporting lots of small young clams south and within a mile of the Clam Gulch Ac-cess — go futher south or north for adult-sized clams.

Fresh Waters

The Anchor River, Deep Creek and Ninilchik River waters are muddy but should clear out this weekend with the good weather. Fishing for Dolly Varden has been fair to good in these rivers.

The Dolly Varden bag limit is two per day with two in possession.

Anglers fishing the Anchor River report a few silver salmon and a steelhead or two. Silver fishing should improve quickly as the typical Aug. 20 peak of the run approaches. Silvers will be available through Labor Day.

For salmon fishing, drift eggs or cast small to medium spinners for best results.

Familiarize yourself with the differences between a silver salmon and a steelhead.

Rainbow/steelhead have black spots all over both lobes of the tail, while silvers have black spots only on the upper lobe of the tail.

Steelhead/rainbow trout may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Personal Use — China Poot

The dipnet fishery in China Poot closed Aug. 7.